Conflict and displacement in Jonglei

The situation in Pathai, a small village in Uror county of Jonglei has become distressing. Urgent action is needed to save lives especially of innocent children. At least 9,000 people have been displaced by intertribal conflict between the Lou Nuer and the Murle tribes around Akobo east of Uror). Both tribes have a history of vicious communal violence perpetrated with the intention of raiding for cows and/or for revenge. Hundreds of houses are estimated to have been destroyed by the tribal conflict and at least 100 people are reported to have been killed/died. In addition 2,000 heads of cows are reported stolen thereby depriving the community of a key coping mechanism. More people will likely be displaced as the intertribal conflict is expected to worsen as revenge violence intensifies. In addition, rampant flooding that occurred towards the end of 2012 have also caused massive food shortages resulting in people moving from even more remote areas to Pathai where they may be able to get food supplies in the market – this has pushed the prices of food even higher in this normally very quiet village. The displaced people are staying in an IDP camp with deteriorating nutritional, health, water, sanitation and hygiene conditions. The situation continues to unfold; it is indeed a real crisis.